Pete's 'Today In History' Quiz: Earth

Showing posts with label Earth. Show all posts

Monday, 3 August 2009

Comets Not Responsible for Extinctions

In a paper published in Science magazine, researchers from the University of Washington, Seattle have concluded that it is not likely that many of the extinctions on Earth were caused by cometary collisions. Whilst this is very interesting, it still leaves the question - if not comets, then what did cause these mass extinctions? Global warming?

Monday's questions are: -

Which crime writer was born in Oxford today in 1920 and created the detective Adam Dalgliesh?
What is the first name of Radio and TV broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan (right) who was born today in 1938 in Limerick?
Which First World War poet was born today in 1887 and wrote the poem "The Soldier" that begins, "If I should die, think only this of me: That there's some corner of a foreign field, That is for ever England."?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Kuwait; 2. Eight ; 3. Adolf Hitler

Wednesday, 1 July 2009

Most Complete Map of Earth Published

The most complete terrain map of the Earth's surface has been published. The data, comprising 1.3 million images, come from a collaboration between the US space agency NASA and the Japanese Trade Ministry. The images were taken by Japan's Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) aboard the Terra satellite. Information on how to access it can be found here. (I haven't got it to work yet, you might have more luck!!)

Your Wednesday posers are: -

Which political group was officially dissolved at a meeting in Prague today in 1991?
Pamela Anderson (right) was born today in 1967 (Canada Day) and starred in which TV series as Vallery Irons?
Who was born today in 1961 at 6:45pm at Park House, Sandringham?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Belgium; 2. Tweedy; 3. Glasgow

Sunday, 28 June 2009

Ulysses to be Shut Down

After 18 years the Ulysses spacecraft is to be turned off. This spacecraft has determined that the solar wind is blowing at a 50-year low. This results in more cosmic radiation hitting the Earth which may result in Climate Change effects. It's too complicated to explain here, but if you follow the links, more light will be shed on the subject! And once you've looked at the evidence I'll just ask one question on this - do you think that Man or the Sun is likely to have most effect on the Earth's climate?

Sunday's questions are: -

Who was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo today in 1914?
Retired American Football quarterback John Elway (right) was born today in 1960 and played for which club from 1983 to 1998?
Name the former Chief UN Weapons Inspector who was born in Sweden today in 1928.

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Pool; 2. Ireland; 3. United Kingdom (Enfield, London)

Thursday, 11 June 2009

Earth Set to Collide with Mars or Venus

Before you head for the hills (no use for this catastrophe as it turns out!) or start building your own space ship, this is only likely to happen in about 3 billion years time! Scientists believe that the planetary orbits in our solar system are not as stable as we once thought; leading to the possibility of overlap and potential collision in the distant future. So, we can carry on wrecking it long before nature takes its course!!

Thursday's questions: -

Which actor and journalist married Rebekah Wade, editor of The Sun newspaper, today in 2002?
What was the name of the ship used throughout his career by explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau (right), who was born today in 1910?
Frank Morris and John & Clarence Anglin escaped from which prison today in 1962?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Elizabeth Hurley; 2. Uganda; 3. Saab